Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced his resignation, and the entire government has stepped down with him as required by the country’s Constitution after the newly elected parliament begins its work.
The resignation is procedural rather than an indication that the government has ceased operating. Until a new Cabinet is formed, the current government will continue carrying out its duties.
Constitutional procedure
Under the constitutional process described in the announcement, the Cabinet of Ministers must formally resign once the parliament of a new convocation starts its work. The resignation applies to the prime minister and the government as a whole.
The next step belongs to the president, who must appoint a prime minister from among candidates put forward by the parliamentary majority. The process therefore links the formation of the executive branch to the composition of the newly elected legislature.
Pashinyan’s party won the election, according to the source material. On that basis, he is considered the most likely candidate to return as head of government. The source does not indicate that a different candidate has been selected or that the appointment process has already been completed.
Government remains in office pending appointment
Although the resignation has been announced, the current Cabinet will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until the constitutional procedure is completed and a new government is appointed. This allows the executive branch to continue performing its responsibilities during the transition.
The president’s appointment of a prime minister will be followed by the formation of the government under the new parliamentary mandate. The precise timing of those steps was not specified in the announcement.
Pashinyan’s resignation comes within the framework of the parliamentary transition described by the Armenian Constitution. His party’s victory means that the same political force is expected to retain the leading role in forming the next government, while the formal appointment remains to be carried out.
For now, no change in the day-to-day responsibilities of the Cabinet has been announced. The existing government will continue to perform its duties until the next prime minister and government take office.
